Combined tobacco and cigar cutter



(No Model.)

G. H.-EARNBST & A. HIBSOHMAN.

COMBINED TOBACCO AND CIGAR CUTTER. No. 393,363. Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT rica.

GEORGE H. EARNEST AND AUGUST HIBSOHMAN, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

COMBINED TOBACCO AND CIGAR CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,363, dated November 27, 1888.

Application filed June 18, 1888. Serial No. 277.495.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE H. EARNEST and AUGUST HIBSOHliIAN,CitiZenS of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a 00mbined Tobacco and Cigar Cutter, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a device specially designed for tobaccousers.

The object of our invention is to provide a device of simple character which may be carried in the pocket by tobacco-users for the purpose of cutting plug-tobacco into small portions suitable for chewing, means being also provided for cutting off the ends of cigars preparatory to smoking. We accomplish this ob ject by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the same. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the tobacco-cutting knife. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views in section and in perspective, respectively, of the cigar-tipcutting portion of the device.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference throughout the several views.

The main body of the device consists of a pair of handles, a a, pivoted together at a af ter the manner of a pair of pliers, the part a being dropped down in front of the pivotal point and extended downwardly to form a base or support, a, from which is projected upwardly a supporting-standard, a provided with a longitudinal slot, a, therein. The part a is dropped downwardly in front of the pivotal point for a short distance in a line with the part c and is then projected forward and ends in projecting stud 7),extended into the slot 07 of the standard a.

Located on the standard a, and adapted to slide vertically thereon, is atobacco-cutting knife, 0, provided at the rear end with an opening, 0, adapted to fit over the projecting stud I). The knife 0 is preferably constructed of a single piece of steel formed at the rear with guides or ways 0 adapted to fit over the sides of the standard a". The knife proper consists of an L-shaped piece, 0, projected outwardly from one of the guides c. WVhen the handles (No model.)

a a are closed together, the knife 0 is brought down against the base portion a. The handles a a are curved inwardly and are adapted to be forced together at the rear end. Each of the handles a a is provided with a notch or recess, d, in the end thereof, beveled slightly from the outside inwardly and adapted when the handles are pressed together to form an opening of a suitable size and shape to receive the tip end of a cigar. Located within one of the handles,and secured thereto in such a manner that it may slide thereon, is a knife or cutter, d, preferably made of thin spring steel and adapted to be forced forward across the opening formed by the notches b b and thus cut off the tip end of a cigar inserted therein. The knife (Z is preferably operated by means of a knurled thumb-piece, 61", located on the outside of one of the handles and connected to the knife byascrew or stud, (i passing through a slotted opening, (1, in the said handle, the knife being held and guided in position in the handle by a fastening-screw, e, which passes through a slotted opening, 0, in the knife and is secured in the said handle.

. In order to facilitate the assembling of the parts,I provide the slot 6' in the knife with an enlargement, 0, adapted to pass over the head of the screw 6, the enlargement e being prevented from coming opposite the screw 6 when in working position by means of the screw or stud d coming to the end of the slot (1 in the said handle. When it is desired to remove the knife for sharpening or otherwise, the screw (1 is removed and the knife pushed back until the enlargement 6 comes opposite the screw 0, at which point it may be readily removed from said screw.

The operation of the device will no doubt be understood as thus described. As the handles a a are opened or closed,the knife 0 will be reciprocated vertically upon the standard a by reason of the projecting stud Z) on one of said handles. In using the tobacco-cutter the knife 0 is placed at the corner of the plug, the plug being inserted between the parts a with the said knife in an elevated position. By pressing the handles together the knife is forced downwardly through the plug and cuts out a small piece of tobacco of a suitable size for chewing. By moving the knife laterally along the plug a second piece maybe cut, and

so on until a row of pieces are cut from the end of the plug, leaving the same perfectly square and smooth.

If it is desired to clip the tip end of a cigar, the handles are placed together and the tip end of a cigar inserted in the opening formed by the notches d d. The knife d is then slipped forward by means of the thumb-piece d sliding across the opening and cutting the tip end of a cigar in the manner desired.

It is obvious that a device as thus described admits of modifications and variations of its exact construction. \Ve do not therefore limit ourselves to the constructions herein shown and described; but

we claim as our invention- 1. The pivoted handles, one of which is provided with a base portion and a supportingstandard, a slotted opening in said standard, and an L-shaped knife provided with guides or ways adapted to fit on said standard and having an opening adapted to receive the projecting end of the other of the said handles, which extends through said opening into the slotted. 2 5 opening on said standard, all combined substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a tobacco and cigar cutter, the pivoted handles, one of which is provided with abase portion and an upwardly-projecting standard, 0 a reciprocating knife on said standard connected, as described, to the forward end of the otherhandle, said handles being provided with notched openings in the ends thereof, and a sliding cutter adapted to move past said open- 35 ings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 9th day of June, A. D. 1888.

GEORGE H. EARNEST. AUGUST HIBSOHMAN. Witnesses:

CHASE STEWART, PAUL A. STALEY. 

